[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES

  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) 
submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, that 
states, ``I request leave of absence from my duties and 
responsibilities as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means until 
such time as the Committee on Standards completes its finding on the 
review currently underway.''
  This morning, that letter to the Speaker was read into the 
proceedings, and at that time the Speaker pro tem, Ms. Schakowsky, in 
accepting the letter stated, ``The resignation is accepted.''
  I have a parliamentary inquiry regarding the nature of the 
resignation. Under this morning's procedure, is Mr. Rangel the chairman 
of the Committee on Ways and Means?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. This morning, the House accepted the 
resignation of the gentleman from New York as chair of the Committee on 
Ways and Means. He has resigned from the chairmanship of the Committee 
on Ways and Means.
  Mr. CARTER. So does that mean the answer is no, he is not the 
chairman?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is correct.
  Mr. CARTER. Further parliamentary inquiry, under House rule X, clause 
5(c), which states, ``In the absence of the member serving as chair, 
the member next in rank (and so on, as often as the case shall happen) 
shall act as chair.''
  Mr. Speaker, under the rules of the House, who is currently the chair 
of the Committee on Ways and Means?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the case to which the inquiry alludes, 
the member of the committee next in rank is the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Stark), so he would currently act as chair.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry, under House 
Resolution 24, the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark) ranks next 
after Mr. Rangel on the resolution electing the members of the 
committee. Under that resolution and by operation of House rule X, 
clause 5(c), Mr. Stark is currently the chairman of Ways and Means as I 
understand the answer. Is that correct?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California is acting 
chair. Clause 5(c) of rule X contemplates that the House will again 
establish an elected chair by adopting a resolution, which typically is 
produced by direction of the majority party caucus.
  Mr. CARTER. Further parliamentary inquiry, in light of Mr. Rangel's 
letter to the Speaker, which states in relevant part that he requests a 
leave of absence, does reinstating the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Rangel) to the chairmanship of the Committee on Ways and Means require, 
as a necessary action, the adopting of a resolution by the full House 
of Representatives electing him as chair?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is stating a hypothetical. The 
Chair will not comment.
  Mr. CARTER. Final parliamentary inquiry, under House rule X, clause 
5, does Mr. Stark assume the chairmanship of the Committee on Ways and 
Means immediately and without any further vote or ratification of the 
House of Representatives?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mr. Stark is acting chair. As the Chair 
stated before, clause 5(c) of rule X contemplates that the House will 
again establish an elected chair by adopting a resolution, which 
typically is produced by direction of the majority party caucus.

                          ____________________